Agatha Christie: Death Comes as the End

"A good deal more than a boy!"

"But sometimes I have to tell him things two or three times before he takes them in. I have to think of every thing - be everywhere! All the time I am away, I am dictating to scribes - writing full instructions so that my sons can carry them out... I hardly rest - I hardly sleep! And now when I come home, having earned a little peace, there is to be fresh difficulty! Even you, my mother, deny my right to have a concubine like other men. You are angry -"

Esa interrupted him.

"I am not angry. I am amused. There will be good sport to watch in the household - but I say all the same that when you go north again you had best take the girl with you."

"Her place is here, in my household! And woe to any who dare ill-treat her."

"It is not a question of ill-treatment. But remember, it is easy to kindle a fire in dry stubble. It has been said of women that 'the place where they are is not good...'"

Esa paused and said slowly:

"Nofret is beautiful. But remember this: Men are made fools by the gleaming limbs of women, and lo, in a minute they are become discolored carnelians..."

Her voice deepened as she quoted:

"A trifle, a little, the likeness of a dream, and death comes as the end."

THIRD MONTH OF INUNDATION, 15TH DAY

Imhotep listened to Sobek's explanations of the sale of the timber in ominous silence. His face had grown very red and a small pulse was beating in his temple.

Sobek's air of easy nonchalance wore a little thin. He had intended to carry things off with a high hand, but in the face of his father's gathering frowns, he found himself stammering and hesitating.

Imhotep finally cut him short impatiently:

"Yes, yes, yes - you thought that you knew more than I did - you departed from my instructions - it is always the same - unless I am here to see to everything." He sighed. "What would become of you boys without me, I cannot imagine!"

Sobek went on doggedly:

"There was a chance of making a much bigger profit - I took the risk. One cannot always be pettifogging and cautious!"

"There is nothing cautious about you, Sobek! You are rash and much too bold and your judgment is always wrong."

"Do I ever have a chance to exercise my judgment?" Imhotep said dryly:

"You have done so this time - against my express orders -"

"Orders! Have I always got to take orders? I am a grown man."

Losing control of his temper, Imhotep shouted:

"Who feeds you; who clothes you? Who thinks of the future? Who has your welfare - the welfare of all of you - constantly in mind? When the River was low and we were threatened with famine, did I not arrange for food to be sent south to you? You are lucky to have such a father - who thinks of everything! And what do I ask in return? Only that you should work hard, do your best, and obey the instructions I send you -"

"Yes," shouted Sobek. "We are to work for you like slaves - so that you can buy gold and jewels for your concubine!"

Imhotep advanced towards him, bristling with rage.

"Insolent boy - to speak like that to your father. Be careful or I will say that this is no longer your home - and you can go elsewhere!"

"And if you are not careful I will go! I have ideas, I tell you - good ideas - that would bring in wealth if I was not tied down by pettifogging caution and never allowed to act as I choose."

"Have you finished?"

Imhotep's tone was ominous. Sobek, a trifle deflated, muttered angrily:

"Yes - yes - I have no more to say - now."

"Then go and see after the cattle. This is no time for idling."

Sobek turned and strode angrily away. Nofret was standing not far away and as he passed her she looked sideways at him and laughed. At her laugh the blood came up in Sobek's face - he made an angry half-step towards her. She stood quite still, looking at him out of contemptuous half-closed eyes.

Sobek muttered something and resumed his former direction. Nofret laughed again, then walked slowly on to where Imhotep was now turning his attention to Yahmose.

"What possessed you to let Sobek act in that foolish fashion?" he demanded irritably. "You should have prevented it! Don't you know by now that he has no judgment in buying and selling? He thinks everything will turn out as he wants it to turn out."

Yahmose said apologetically:

"You do not realize my difficulties, Father. You told me to entrust Sobek with the sale of the timber. It was necessary therefore that it should be left to him to use his judgment."

"Judgment? Judgment? He has no judgment! He is to do what I instruct him to do - and it is for you to see that he does exactly that."

Yahmose flushed.

"I? What authority have I?"

"What authority? The authority I give you."

"But I have no real status. If I were legally associated with you -"

He broke off as Nofret came up. She was yawning and twisting a scarlet poppy in her hands.

"Won't you come to the little pavilion by the lake, Imhotep? It is cool there and there is fruit waiting for you and Keda beer. Surely you have finished giving your orders by now."

"In a minute, Nofret - in a minute."

Nofret said in a soft, deep voice:

"Come now. I want you to come now..."

Imhotep looked pleased and a little sheepish. Yahmose said quickly before his father could speak:

"Let us just speak of this first. It is important. I want to ask you -"

Nofret spoke directly to Imhotep, turning her shoulder on Yahmose:

"Can you not do what you want in your own house?"

Imhotep said sharply to Yahmose:

"Another time, my son. Another time."

He went with Nofret and Yahmose stood on the porch looking after them.

Satipy came out from the house and joined him.

"Well," she demanded eagerly, "have you spoken to him? What did he say?"

Yahmose sighed.

"Do not be so impatient, Satipy. The time was not - propitious."

Satipy gave an angry exclamation.

"Oh, yes - that's what you would say! That is what you will always say. The truth is you are afraid of your father - you are as timid as a sheep - you bleat at him - you will not stand up to him like a man! Do you not recall the things you promised me? I tell you I am the better man of us two! You promise - you say: 'I will ask my father - at once - the very first day.' And what happens -"

Satipy paused - for breath, not because she had finished - but Yahmose cut in mildly:

"You are wrong, Satipy. I began to speak - but we were interrupted."

"Interrupted? By whom?"

"By Nofret."

"Nofret! That woman! Your father should not let his concubine interrupt when he is speaking of business to his eldest son. Women should not concern themselves with business." Possibly Yahmose wished that Satipy herself would live up to the maxim she was enunciating so glibly, but he was given no opportunity to speak. His wife swept on:

"Your father should have made that clear to her at once."

"My father," said Yahmose dryly, "showed no signs of displeasure."

"It is disgraceful," Satipy declared. "Your father is completely bewitched by her. He lets her say and do as she pleases."

Yahmose said thoughtfully:

"She is very beautiful..."

Satipy snorted.

"Oh, she has looks of a kind. But no manners! No upbringing! She does not care how rude she is to all of us."

"Perhaps you are rude to her?"

"I am the soul of politeness. Kait and I treat her with every courtesy. Oh, she shall have nothing of which to go complaining to your father. We can wait our time, Kait and I."

Yahmose looked up sharply.

"How do you mean - wait your time!"

Satipy laughed meaningly as she moved away.

"My meaning is woman's meaning - you would not understand. We have our ways - and our weapons! Nofret would do well to moderate her insolence. What does a woman's life come to in the end, after all? It is spent in the back of the house - amongst the other women."